Engine-starting device.



Patented July 18, 1911 2 SHEBTSSHBET 1.

vwenlioz G. J. 'SPOHRER. ENGINE STARTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.11, 1911.

998,418. Patented July 18,1911.

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GREGORY J. SPOHRER, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINE-STARTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18,1911.

Application filed February 11, 1911. Serial No. 608,013. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GREGORY J. Sroniunz, a citizen of the United States,residing at- Franklin, in the county of Venango and State ofPennsylvania, have invented cer- 1 tain new and useful Improvements inEngine-Starting Devices, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in engine starting devices andmore particularly to a device adapted to be operated by means ofcompressed air and constructedl and arranged upon a motor vehicle toimpart the initial movement to the engine shaft.

Another object resides in the provision of a device of the. abovecharacter wl'pch is extremely simple, positive in its operation and maybe actuated with a minimum expenditure of power.

A still further object of the invention rcsides in the provision of adouble acting foot operated valve -connected to and cooperating with avalve arranged upon the piston cylinder to control the admission andexhaust of the actuating fluid to said cylinder.

A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide a reciprocatingpiston geared to the motor shaft, and; means automatically operating toeliminate possible breakage of the parts after the completion of theeffective stroke of the piston, in the event that the shaft should backkick or retrograde.

W'ith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of adevice constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 isan enlarged longitudinal section through the piston cylinder; Fig. 3 isan end elevation thereof; and Fig. 4 is a. detail fragmentary elevationshowing. the ratchet engaging dogs for locking the gear on the engineshaft in their elevated or inoperative positions at the end of theinward or reverse stroke of the piston.

The present invention is more particularly related to engine startingdevices of that ment of the rack and thereby impart the initial impulseto the engine, and embodies in its construction improvedmeans forcontrolling the operation of the movable piston whereby the device isrendered very positive I in its operation, the invention also includingcharacter employing, a movable rack Which i co-acts with a gear on theengine shaft to other features of construction nun'ierous deficienciesconunon to this class of automatic ,engine'startcrs are eliminated.lVith the. above ends in view, I. provide the piston cylinder 5 in whicha reciprocating piston (3 is arranged. The piston rod 7 secured to thepiston (3 and extends through one end of the cylinder. Ahead 8 issecured upon and closes the other end of the cylinder 5. A valve 9 isarranged upon the forward end of the piston c 'lind er through which'the rod 7 extends, the valve member IO'bc'ing normally seated by meansof the springll. The valve stem 12 is connected to the member 10 and isvertically movable in the lateral whereby i extension or enlargement 13formed on the spherically formed for engagement upon a rib 14 formedupon the movable piston rod 7. The port 15 of the valve 9 connected bymeans of the pipe 16 with the inlet port 17. \Vith this pipe,approximately intermediate of the inlet and outlet ports,the'exhaustpipe 18 is connected.

The piston '6 is adapted to he reciprocated in its cylinder 5 by meansof compressed air or other actuating '[iuid which-is containdd in a tankor reservoir '19 mounted in any convenient place upon the fral'ne of themachine. The admission of the actuating fluid to the piston cylinder iscontrolled through the medium of a double acting foot operated valve 20.This valvoas illustrated in the accompanying drawings, includes thecasings 21 which are integrally or therwisc connected together and haveplugs 22 threaded therein .to receive one end of the valve springs 23.

valve casings as indicated at 2'7: ----Tl'ie ends rotate said. shaft inone dlrection of move l of this oscillatory bar are formed WltliSGlflll-These springs norn'ially' 1 act to retain the valve members 2-1 upon.end to the bar 26 as, designated at 31.

The spring 32 normally acts to engage one end of the oscillatory bar 26with the stem of one of the valves 2-'-l to unseat said valve. Thisvalve case is connected by means of the exhaust pipe 18 with the pipe 16hereinbefore referred to and conductsthe air exhausted from the piston 5in the inward or reverse stroke of said piston from whence it isexhausted to the atmosphere through the port 34 in the valve case whichis dispos d below the-seat ol the valve member 24. The

other valve case 21 is connected by means of the pipe at a point belowthe valve memher, with the valve 9 which is arranged on .the forward endof the cvlinder :1 and is adapted to su )lv air to said valve. A )i )ell l. l

36 also connects the air tank It) with. said valve case above the valvemember. The stem of'the exhaust valve is of less length than that of theinlet valve whereby, when the foot rod 2.) is depressed. the valvemember 21 of the exhaust will be seated before the inlet valve member israised from its seat to permit the passage of compressed air from theair tank to the cylinder valve 9 through the medium of the connectingpipe 35. The valve member 10 is automatically 'aised from its seat toopen comn'iunieation between said valve and the rear end of the pistoncylinder, by means of the rib 1-1. which engages the lower end 12 of thevalve stem in the reverse or inward movement ofthe piston. The pistoncylinder is provided in its forward end with an exhaust port 5 whichopens when the piston is at the extreme end. of its for 'ard movementand after the valve 10 has been seated so that a portion of th v airbehind the piston is exhausted. Pressure is not applied upon the footrod 2.) until the piston has completed its inward stroke and the air hasbeen exhausted from behind the piston through the pipe 18 and thenormally open exhaust valve of the double acting i'oot valve 20. As thecompressed air is admitted through the cylinder valve 9 to the rear endof said cylinder, the piston is moved forwardly and the rod 7 thereofprojected through the forward lateral extension 13 of the forwardcylinder head. The rack teeth 37 on said piston mesh with the teeth of agear 39 which is loosely mounted upon the engine shaft 40. A ratchet 41is keyed upon said shaft adjacent to the r 39 and upon one face of saidgear a cir-, enlar plate 4-2 is arranged, said plate being provided withribs 4-3 for engagement in the grooves 44- in the face of the gear. Thisplate has mounted upon its other face at diametrically oppositepointsthe dogs 4-5 which are normally and yieldingly held in engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet 41 by means of suitable leaf springs 46Which are fixed at one of their ends to the gear plate 42. These dogs 45are adapted to lock the gear 39 upon the engine shaft to rotate saidshaft in the forward or outward movement of the piston rod through themedium of the co-engaged gear teeth and the rack teeth 37. At the end ofthe outward or ell'ective stroke of the piston, said piston is reversedor returned to its normal position at the inner end of the cylinderthrough the medium of a helical spring t7 which is arranged upontheengine shaft 4-0 and has one end lixed to the gear 39 and its otherend to one of the hearings or supports 48 which are formed upon the endsof arms 49 integrally formed upon the extension 13 of the cylinder head.

Tu order to obviate liability of breakage of the parts by retrogrademovement of the engine shaft when the piston has completed its inwardornon-etl'ective stroke, I provide the lifting elements 50 which arepivotally mounted as indicated at 51in longitudinal slots or recessesformed in one of the bearings l8. 'lhese lifting elements are normallyheld in position in said grooves with their free ends disposed uponopposite sides of the ratchet. ll. by means of the leaf springs 52 l8.in the outward or effective stroke of the piston when the gear 39 islocked upon the engine shaft. the dogs 4-5 engage under the the sameagainst the tension of the springs 52, said dogs retaining theirpositions in locked engagement with the ratchet. In the reverse movementof the gear caused by the un winding of the spring 4-7, the dogs moveidly over the ratchet teeth andover the free ends of the liftingelements 50, said elements throwing the dogs outwardly. .VVhen thepiston t reaches the limit of its inward movement, said dogs-aredisposed in the positions indicated in Fig. 4, wherein they are shownarranged upon the ends of the elements 50 entirely out of contact withthe ratchet teeth. It will thusbe seen that in the event that the engineshaft shonl daccidonlally baek kick orrotate in alreverse-.directiomfthe gear and pl1ate42 will'remain i stationary on saidshalt) a; ratchet 41 alone free ends-of the lifting elements 50 and movewhich are secured at one end to the bearing till turning with the same.In this manner the possibility of damage or breakage of the variouselements avoided.

From the foregoing it believed that the construction and operation of myimproved engine stirting device will be thoroughly understWJdi Themechanism is at all times under the control ot the operator, the doubleacting valve 20 being arranged ina tainvenient position upon the dashboard of the machine for engagement by the foot ofthe operator. Theengine may be easily and quickly started without requiring him to leavehis seat.

The invention is also extremely positive and reliable in practical useand by providi'ng'fthe arrangement of parts as above set fprtl manyserious defects which have heretotore existed in devices of this cl'taactcr are eliminated.

\Vhile I have shown and descrihedihe preferred construction of myinvention, it will be understood that the device is susceptible ot agreat many minor modifications without departing from the essentialfeature or sacrificing any of the. advantages thereof. I

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is z 1. In an enginestarting device, the coin- -bi nation with a cylinder .and a pistonmounted to reciprocate therein, of a gear looscty'n'iounted on theengine shaft, a rod extending from the piston through one end of thecylinder having rack teeth formed thereon for engagen'iei'itwith theteeth of said gear, a valve in one end of the cylinder, means carried bythe piston rod to engage and open said valve, in the movement of thepiston in one direction, said'cylinder having an exhaust port at itsother end, an air supply tank to supply air to said cylinder valve, andmeans under the control of the operator to admit air through said valveto one end oi the cylinder to move the piston in one direction and rotate the engine shaft, such means normally exhausting air from the sameend ol the cyliinler in the reverse movement oi the piston.

in an engine starting device. the combination with a cylinder and apiston mou'nted to reciprocate thcrcin. or' a gear loosely mounted onthe engine shaft,- a rod extending from the piston through one. cud ot'the cylinder and brving rack teeth formed thereon cng 'ging with thegear teeth, means for lockiag the gear upoiothe engine shaft torotatcsai-d shaft. in one direction of movement of the piston. a springscaled valve arranged in one end ol' the c \'liudci', means 'arricd bythe piston rod to automati ally open said valve in the cll'cctivc strokeoi the piston, the other cud oi said cylinder having an cxhaust portthcrciina connection between saidvaiv and the cxhaust p rt of pivotallymounted elements having 'lrcc. ends disposed adjacent to the. ratchet/the cylinder, a double foot operated valve normally open to said exhaustport. the operation of said 'alve closing the. exhaust and openingcomn'iunicaiion with the cylinder, valve, and a supply tank connccledfiosaid foot operated valve to supply pressure fluid to the cylinder valve.

In an engine starting device. the combination with a cylinden and apiston' to reciprocate therein, of a gear loosely mountcd on the engineshaft, a piston rod connected to the piston and having rack teeth toengage the teeth of said gem-{means for locking the gear on the engineshaft? in one direction of movement of the piston rod to rotate saidshaft, a spring seated valve arranged in one end of said cylinder, meanscarried by the piston rod to automatically open said 'alve and hold thesame open during a portion of its ettcctive stroke, said cylinder havingan exhaust port in its forward end which is opened after the closing ofsaid valve. said cylinder also having a port connnunitaiting with thevalve chamber and an exhaust port in its opposite end, a ci'inncctionbetween said ports, a supply tank, a pair of foot operated valves, aconnection between one. of said valves and the pipe connecting saidports, said, valve having an exhaust port and being'normally open toexhaust air from one end of the cylinder, a connection between the otherof said valves and the cylinder Valve, a connec tion between said valveand the air supply tank, the opening of said latter valve to admit airthrough the oylmdervalve to the rear end of the cylinder simultaneously"closing cmmnunication between the other of said valves and the exhaust.

In an engine starting device, thecombination with a cylinderiand apistonmount ed to reciprocate therein, of a gcarloosely mounted on. the engineshaft, a red conncctcd to said piston having rack teeth teeth,- aratchet keyed uponv said shaft, a plate arranged upon one face of thegear and carried thereby, dogs pivoted upon said plate at. diametricallyopposite points "icldingl v held in engagci'ncnt with the teeth ol theratchet to lock vtliegear on said shaft in one direction of movement ofthe piston rod whereby the engine shaft is rotated, their adapted to beengaged and moved by said dogs in the etl'cctivc stroke of the piston,

said elements at. the cud of the reverse stroke oi the piston moving thedogs and supportcd to reciprocate therein, ot a gear loosely thereon toengage'ivith the gear ing the same out of contact with the teeth mounted'on the engine shaft, :1 rod fixed to the piston having rack teethformed thereon for engagement with the gear teeth, a ratchet keyed uponthe shaft, :1 plate carried by the gear, pivoted dogs arranged on saidplate at diametrically opposite points normally and yieldingly held inengagement with the ratchet teeth to lock the gear on the shaft wherebysaid shaft is rotatedin one direction of movementof the piston, andoppositely disposed spring held elements pivotally mounted at one oftheir ends and disposed at their other ends on opposite sides of theratchet, said members moving the dogs out of contact with the ratchet 15signature in the presence of two witnesses. 20

GREGORY JOHN SPOHRER. lVit'nesses JOHN E. FEENEY, HUGH REILLY.

